Garage fire overtakes home, ends in total loss

Following a fire the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 26, the home of Nicholas and Bethany Sperandio on Highway FF southeast of Mt. Vernon is no more, likely thanks to a faulty lawnmower. The blaze started in the garage—where a malfunctioning lawn mower was earlier placed—and slowly burned its way through the house, finally being extinguished by fire crews well beyond too late. Although no one was inside during the inferno, one resident was outside on a tractor Brushhogging when someone stopped to inform him his house was ablaze. The house is a total loss, reported personnel on hand. Responding to the call were fire fighting crews from Aurora, Mt. Vernon, Stotts City, Freistatt and Miller. (Photo by Ryan Squibb)